Three Nationals senators resign from frontbench after crossing the floor to oppose Labor’s hate speech bill | Coalition

Three Nationals Senators have resigned from the front bench after taking to the floor to vote against Labour’s hate speech bill.

Sussan Ley accepted the trio’s resignation on Wednesday, a day after Ross Cadell, Bridget Mckenzie and Susan McDonald voted against the Coalition’s position on the controversial legislation, which was a breach of shadow cabinet solidarity rules.

This is the latest challenge to the authority of Ley and National Team leader David Littleproud.

The convention requires frontbenchers to vote in line with the shadow cabinet’s decision or resign from their frontbencher roles.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Ley said shadow cabinet solidarity was “not optional”.

“When the coalition reformed in May last year, the fundamental principle underlying this agreement was a commitment to shadow cabinet solidarity,” the statement said.

“Yesterday, in several meetings, I made it clear to David Littleproud that members of the shadow cabinet could not vote against the position of the shadow cabinet. This is unfortunate and requires action.”

Ley said he asked Littleproud to nominate three other citizens to join the front bench.

Multiple senior Coalition sources previously confirmed to Guardian Australia that Nationals MPs were discussing an “one for one, all for one” approach in which all their shadow ministers, including Littleproud, would leave the front bench if Ley sacked the three senators.

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A Liberal MP told Guardian Australia it was “disappointing” the National Party was considering a mass strike but Ley should reject offers to resign.

“Nats resigning en masse are turning a story about an Albanese own goal into a Liberal party story… Let’s keep them and move on,” they said.

Littleproud and other National Party leaders in the lower house abstained from the vote; This was also technically a breach of the shadow cabinet’s position to work with Labor to pass the bill.

Coalition sources confirmed that the National Party had not objected to the position agreed in the shadow cabinet on Sunday night, with the country party’s stance hardening on Monday afternoon.

The National Party held another party room meeting on Wednesday morning amid anger over the trio and supporter Matt Canavan voting against the bill. As a reserve MP, Canavan is not bound by shadow cabinet solidarity rules.

A Nationals source said the party room meeting focused on “pastoral care”.

Ley and the Liberal leadership group, which includes Senate leaders Michaelia Cash and Anne Ruston, also held crisis talks Wednesday morning.

Earlier Wednesday, Cadell said he was willing to go to the bench if Ley requested, but stood by his decision to walk the field.

“I understand that if you commit a crime you have to serve the punishment and I will resign from the shadow cabinet if requested,” he said. “I’m ready to take my medicine.”

The legislation, which would allow the government to designate organizations as “hate groups,” give the interior secretary additional grounds to revoke or deny visas, and impose tougher penalties for religious and spiritual leaders who encourage violence, passed the Senate by a vote of 38 to 22 after 11 p.m.

Liberal leader Dave Sharma told Channel Nine the trio should vote alongside their Coalition counterparts.

“I was disappointed to see that. And it didn’t reflect the understandings that had been reached,” he said.

“From my perspective, it is important that we assist the government in passing these important laws that allow us to take tougher action against people who incite hatred.”

The Coalition briefly split after the May election after the National party tried to strong-arm Ley into signing a deal that would make nuclear policy, a regional future fund and powers to break up supermarkets part of the Coalition’s policy platform.

The two leaders returned to the negotiating table within 48 hours and the Coalition met again a week later.